Chapter 21: First update
The sky is a bit cloudy today. The winter sun is hidden behind thin clouds, and only a piercing white halo can be seen.
A team of carriages and horses were traveling along the winding dirt road beside the fields.
When they reached the foot of the mountain, the light carriage could no longer move forward, so Xun Rongbi changed to riding on a sedan chair.
Xie Ci lifted the carriage curtain, held Xun Rongbi with one hand, slowly stepped down from the shaft, and helped him sit on the rattan chair next to him.
After leaving the city, the northwest cold wind suddenly became stronger, blowing the cloak. Xie Ci took a thick blanket from the return carriage and draped it over Xun Rongbi, tightly wrapping his still hunched and thin old body.
Xun Rongbi reached out from under the blanket, took Xie Ci's hand and felt it. "Are you cold? Put on more clothes."
Xie Ci was not dressed warmly, only wearing a thick gorilla wool cloak over his black captain's armor. The cloak was fluttering in the strong wind, revealing his broad shoulders, which were already covered by the black armor, his slender waist, and a pair of long, agile legs.
Xie Ci's hands were not cold, the young man was full of vigor and vitality.
Xun Rongbi's expression was somewhat gloomy today, but at this moment, looking up at Xie Ci, he still revealed a very relieved and kind smile. "Xiao Si has grown up, and he will soon be able to stand on his own."
"Um."
Xun Rongbi patted his hand in relief, and Xie Ci shook it back. "So, uncle, take good care of yourself. I will be filial to you in the future."
Xun Rongbi was very happy: "Good, good!"
He nodded repeatedly, feeling both happy and sad. He looked back toward the end of the mountain, trying to calm himself down. "Let's go."
"Okay, uncle, tell me if you're cold."
Xie Ci put Xun Rongbi's hand back into the blanket, turned around, took another blanket from the carriage, hung it on the side of the saddle, and climbed onto the horse.
Two guards lifted the sedan chair, and the group walked along the path at the foot of the mountain towards the cemetery.
Xun Xiao's tomb is in the mountains, said to be on a sunny slope.
But there is no sunlight today, and the halo is hidden behind thick clouds. Everything is desolate in the winter month, with yellow-brown earth and mountains, black bare tree branches, and scattered remaining snow covering them.
The dry and cold wind from the northwest blew hard, and it became bitterly cold after entering the mountains. The sound of farmers covering the fields with straw was left behind. The mountains were deserted and silent, and the only sound was the crackling sound of dry branches being broken by the cold wind.
Xie Ci looked ahead, and the muscles in his back, arms, and entire body were even tighter than before.
The team began to move forward. The mountain path was narrow, and Xun Rongbi's sedan chair was raised in front of him. As he moved, the smile on Xie Ci's lips gradually faded, and the warmth in his eyes disappeared silently.
In fact, he was very alert and cautious at this moment, and his vigilance reached its peak the moment he entered the mountain.
Xie Ci had just been serving his uncle well, and the two of them were having a tender conversation, but in reality, the muscles on Xie Ci's back were tense the whole time.
Being in the situation himself, reason easily overcame emotion. Since leaving the city, vigilance had silently occupied his entire mind.
Xie Ci didn't want to die, and he absolutely couldn't die. His father and brother had died with their eyes open, and were still waiting for him to clear their names.
He had only just begun to grope his way into this matter.
He can die.
But at least it must be after all this is done, and definitely not now!
And Gu Wan is waiting for him.
Mother, family, father, brother, Gu Wan, the whole family piled up in his heart, and the heavy weight instantly overwhelmed the other side.
His uncle's kind face and caring words were so close to him that Xie Ci's heart felt half hot and half cold. He was trembling with intense emotions and the possibility of a fatal crisis.
It was as if something was rolling heavily in his heart, but the other half was unusually calm. In this interaction of water and fire, Xie Ci was like a bow stretched to the extreme.
——If this is a trap, what should he do?
Xie Ci's inky pupils slowly turned, taking in the brown and yellow rolling hills covered with residual snow, the black branches of tall and short trees, and clusters and patches of rolling yellow thorns. Only a few scattered evergreen pines and cypresses were dotted at the end of his vision. The Suzhou mountains and fields in winter were as desolate and vast as he remembered.
He thought, if this was the case, then he should take the initiative, find the most suitable and self-serving location, and expose this conspiracy first.
Rather than letting someone lead him into an ambush.
The mountain wind was howling and chilling, and Xie Ci's blood felt like it was boiling. He clenched his fists tightly. If he was being too suspicious, after today, he would kneel down and kowtow, explain all his dark thoughts to his uncle, admit his mistakes, and ask for his uncle's forgiveness.
No matter how his uncle beat or scolded him, he would kneel in the front yard and accept everything!
But, if...
Xie Ci touched his waist and suddenly gripped the handle of his knife!
All this happened faster than expected.
Of course, Xun Xiao’s tomb could not be in the deep mountains. The Xun family’s ancestral home was Haozhou, but they had been rooted in Suzhou for a long time. Xun Xiao’s tomb, like the generals who died in Suzhou, was buried in the soldiers’ cemetery.
Xun Xiao was buried in a newly cleared plot to the east, at the highest point at the edge. A sheer cliff rose to the west, deep within the cliff face, thick with gnarled pines. The midwinter wind was exceptionally strong, rustling along the cliff face.
To the east are tombs and cemeteries of both old and new, surrounded by pine and cypress trees. Looking from Xun Xiao's tomb to the other end, to the west is a small hill surrounded by a concave terrain like the bottom of a pot.
After the memorial service, one needs to wait for the incense and candles to burn out. Xun Rongbi is weak, so he will definitely need some time to rest, and that safe haven like the bottom of a pot is the best place to rest.
The journey was much shorter than imagined, just a cup of tea. Xie Ci had just driven his horse to the cemetery and looked around, and the place that looked like the bottom of a pot immediately came into his sight.
The sky was gray, the long thorns were rustling, and the Western Hills were like a dark mouth, opening silently.
Xie Ci's hair stood on end for a moment.
The Xie family had a natural military sense. He turned his head suddenly and saw that the soldiers and guards had dismounted, some were cleaning, some were placing incense, candles and paper money, and the rest of the people, just like they had done along the way, formed a column and stood guard in front and behind.
The sound of the wind and rain was like stepping on his heart.
Xie Ci looked up suddenly. In front of him was Long Shouren, and behind Long Shouren was a cliff where the north wind was howling. The cliff extended upward for dozens of feet, with a solitary pine tree growing at the top. Above that was the grayish-white sky with clouds moving in the wind.
A lone goose flapped its wings and flew south alone.
Xie Ci did not hesitate. He took off the longbow hanging on the saddle and grabbed the long arrow with his backhand. "Swish!" The arrow cut through the wind and shot towards the lone goose!
With a "puff", it hit the target!
——Whether it is the cracking arrow or the throwing cup, they are all well-known signals for action in the army!
If there was a trick, these neatly dressed soldiers and guards would definitely be as tense as he was, openly relaxed but secretly tense.
…
Xie Ci shot an arrow, and all the soldiers subconsciously straightened their upper bodies. The small brooms that were sweeping the graves paused for a moment, and the incense, candles, and paper money that they were placing fell to the ground. Some people even subconsciously put their hands on the hilts of the swords at their waists. Shao Qing hurriedly covered up and let go.
Everyone was like a cassette tape that had stopped for a moment, and after a slight pause, it started moving again.
"Xiao Si, what are you doing?"
Xun Rongbi was standing up from the rattan chair with the help of his guards. The guards shook out a very thick black fox fur cloak and were tying the knot under his neck for him.
Xun Rongbi paused in looking up, then turned his head to look over and asked.
Staring at the old face that was still kind yet seemed to have changed slightly, familiar yet unfamiliar, a chill grew in his heart, slowly enveloping and invading his heart.
Xie Ci moved, and the black horse raised its mane restlessly and paced a few steps to the west. He pulled the reins, and the black horse raised its neck and neighed, finally calming down. In fact, Xie Ci retreated further towards the cliff behind.
Xie Ci glanced around and clearly saw Long Shouren standing solemnly on the edge of the cliff on the west side of the tomb. An extremely complicated look flashed in his eyes.
He said to Xun Rongbi, "The cry of a lone goose over a grave is not auspicious. My eldest cousin fought on the battlefield, so I guess he wouldn't be afraid of seeing blood."
"Is that so?"
Xun Rongbi pulled up the corner of his lip, and his kind expression looked as if it was coated with wax.
After this conversation, an indescribable atmosphere spread silently between them.
The next moment, the answer was officially revealed!
Someone clapped their hands, and a mellow male voice said, "Stop talking nonsense and get started!"
Following this man's order, dozens of palace guards and accompanying soldiers dropped what they were holding, drew out their swords, and quickly formed a circle.
At the very edge, an inconspicuous tall sergeant pulled off the beard and mud on his face, put on a smear of makeup, revealing his true appearance.
Gao Jian was tall and slender, with calm and steady steps, eagle eyes and a hawk nose, and a sharp gaze. He was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with a slightly raised eyebrow, and slowly walked up from the back.
Wherever he passed, the soldiers and guards quickly made way to the sides and then gathered together. He soon stood in the center position and took control of the entire situation.
This person is Xie Ci’s real second cousin Xun Xun!
He raised his hand, and seventy or eighty masters in tight-fitting clothes came running towards him from a distance of half a mile, beyond the range of human hearing, with the sound of whistling wind.
It turned out that Xun Xun was still preparing a powerful arrow formation for Xie Ci in Xikeng, determined to kill him. What a pity.
However, the arrow formation is just a safety precaution. Since it cannot be used, it is no longer needed.
Xun Xun's eyes were sharp, and everyone obeyed the orders of this young man. Only a few guards who were familiar to Xie Ci and had followed Xun Rongbi in his early years, drew their swords and gathered around Xun Rongbi. They were facing Xie Ci and were also on high alert to guard against other guards on the side.
In an instant, he went from being kind-hearted and gentle to being in a desperate situation.
It only took a breath!
When Xie Ci saw Xun Xun for the first time, he was shocked and angry, and he understood everything in an instant.
He turned stiffly, with a deep anger, and slowly looked at Xun Rongbi, his uncle who was like a half-father to him.
He said hoarsely: "Why?"
He and Gu Guan had clearly checked repeatedly and found that the shackles on Xun Rongbi's wrists and the scars of torture on his body were not fake, and he was indeed locked in a sealed room and was dying.
Isn't it too much of a sacrifice to set a trap?
And does he have clairvoyance, able to foresee more than a year ago that Xie Ci would successfully escape from prison in the future?
But all these surprises and doubts were nothing compared to the huge indignation and grief that arose in an instant at being betrayed again.
Although he had made countless mental preparations and shot the arrow himself, Xie Ci still couldn't believe it when it all happened.
The huge indignation was like a tsunami, instantly drowning him. Xie Ci was like a wounded lone wolf, his eyes bloodshot.
——It was actually to trick the Xie family into revealing their whereabouts!
Xie Ci hissed, "Why? Tell me why?!"
Why did you frame my father and brother?!
The Xie family has already been completely destroyed, so why kill him? Why kill him so completely?!
Isn't his mother your biological sister? Didn't you travel thousands of miles to see her, to make sure she was safe and happy?
Xie Ci never forgot the time when he was very young and ran back along the corridor. At that time, his mother had just given birth to his younger brother and men were not allowed to visit. He saw his uncle standing under the window. He knew he couldn't see, but he still stretched his neck to look at the dim light inside.
At that moment, the resolute back in black armor, the carefully cherished movements, the dim light of the lanterns in the corridor covering his head and shoulders, Xie Ci will always remember that tender scene.
It was precisely because of these scenes that, although Xie Ci was always on guard, he was actually extremely unwilling to believe emotionally and in his heart that his uncle had really betrayed the Xie family.
While he was looking around all the way, the small half of his heart was thinking about how to apologize to his uncle afterwards, and how to make amends without hurting the old man's feelings.
Xie Ci is filled with hatred!
Xun Rongbi's face darkened. He did not answer. His eyes were a little embarrassed and fierce. He turned his head away to avoid Xie Ci's gaze.
"Let me tell you."
Xun Xun sneered, his gaze piercing through the crowd and Xie Ci, staring coldly at the gloomy, drooping old man in front of him like a sharp arrow. "It's just a win-win cooperation. I still need him to be the governor of Suzhou for another two years, and he still wants to turn the tables. It's that simple!"
"He was the one who wrote the letter and met the special envoy."
It was just a battle between father and son, and he was at a disadvantage again!
"Because he had to give in! Your uncle, the most important thing in his heart is always himself!"
Yes, he loves his sister and his nephew, and he has a close relationship with the Xie family like a family, but in the end, all of this is not as important as himself!
"Isn't it true that what he's best at in his life is sacrificing his relatives for the sake of justice and for his own benefit?!"
Xun Xun said coldly and resentfully, his face etched with sarcasm: "Do you know how he came back after being captured by the Northern Rong King Tingkun Yuling tribe?!"
"He gained the favor of Princess Rilian, who helped him transform himself and marry the princess as her husband. Six years later, he fathered two sons and a daughter, finally gaining the trust of King Kun Yuling. But within a year, this man led the Kun Yuling army into a Wei ambush, and the entire Kun Yuling army was annihilated!"
"And he personally beheaded Princess Rilian, everyone in the princess's mansion who had seen him, including his own children! He completely wiped out everyone who knew him! He transformed himself into Xun Suwu, the man who endured humiliation and feigned surrender to the Northern Rong for seven years before collaborating with the outside world to achieve unprecedented feats!"
"Hahaha, then he returned beautifully, stepping on the blood of the Kun Yuling tribe and Princess Rilian's mansion, and became famous and successful! He killed his wife and children, and became a famous general and hero of the Wei Dynasty. Isn't that ridiculous?! Hahahahahahaha"
Even though Xie Ci was filled with hatred, he couldn't help but be shocked to the extreme. He suddenly turned his head and stared at Xun Rongbi! Xun Rongbi's face twitched, his expression was extremely gloomy and embarrassed!
"Does he dare not surrender? This is the fundamental reason why he dares not speak out!"
"For him, as long as he's on the other side of the scale, all the family, friendship, and connections are bullshit!"
"Don't even mention the Xie family, even if there are ten of them, let alone you, Xie Ci. Even if his own sister is right in front of him, he will still kill her! Hahaha, isn't that ridiculous? Xie Ci, are you very disappointed?!"
Xun Xun said sternly, "You don't need to look for anyone else. He's the culprit! Without him, this would never have been accomplished. Xie Xinzhong would never have led his troops out of the customs in the middle of the night to Lantianyuan for no reason!"
Xie Ci stared intently at Xun Rongbi, whose expression changed several times, becoming gloomy, embarrassed, and finally glaring fiercely at Xun Xun, who had exposed his past in public. Xie Ci's heart sank, sinking all the way into a chilly, bottomless abyss, his anger gushing out like a volcano!
His teeth were chattering with hatred!
"Okay, I'm done. I'll let you know what's going on. No need to thank me."
Xun Xun stopped laughing loudly, his brows stern, "Xie Ci, prepare to die! The Xie family doesn't need to keep any adult males anymore!!"
…
The wanton laughter died down, and the atmosphere in front of the cemetery became solemn and murderous!
The ones Xun Xun chose today were all masters under his command who were capable of fighting ten enemies at once, and even included his own death squads and secret guards.
This is a killer siege!!
In the distance, archers were emerging from the high edge of the pot-shaped terrain and galloping towards this side in formation.
Xie Ci shot a goose with an arrow, buying himself a chance of survival, but he had to escape successfully before the archers arrived.
Otherwise, your life will be over!
The hot blood rushed to his head, but his mind was calmer than ever. In front of the tombstone, a strangulation immediately began. He leaped and blood immediately sprayed on the brown yellow earth.
Under the fierce attack of the wheels, Xie Ci raised his head and let out a long roar. He yanked back with his left hand and drew the knife at his side! "Ding-hua-la-la" the fine iron chain was violently pulled. He swept the long knife in his left hand, and the blade unexpectedly broke free from the handle and swept across, harvesting the lives of the seven or eight people in the innermost circle.
Hot blood spurted out of his neck and a foul smell filled the air.
Xie Ci's backup knife turned out to be a chain throwing knife, with the handle and blade connected by a long fine iron chain. He was stabbed and chopped, and with a "ripping" sound, the cowhide armor was torn open, revealing a very densely woven three-layer chain mail inner armor.
——These things are the raw materials that Gu Guan secretly obtained and modified in the camp.
The blade cut through the chain mail, sending out faint sparks, but it failed to penetrate the three layers of inner armor after several attempts!
Xie Ci's judgment was precise and quick. As soon as he had harvested the inner circle, he let out a long roar! He soared into the sky, leaping straight towards the cliff in the opposite direction. Long Shouren gritted his teeth and raised his broadsword to meet the blow. With a sharp "bang" of metal clashing, Long Shouren's knuckles cracked. Priding himself on his incredible strength, he felt a powerful force like splitting a mountain and splitting rock from above. Under Xie Ci's full-strength blow, he actually fell to his knees.
Xie Ci killed him with one knife!
Maybe he was once very complicated and contradictory, but in the end he helped the evil and became the most powerful executioner who lured Xie Ci and the Xie family who had barely escaped from death!
"Xie Ci, you actually mastered the Chain Blade Technique?!"
Xun Xun drew out his long sword and went into battle himself. His face changed in an instant, filled with fear and anger. In his early years, Xun Rongbi personally went to hire a famous swordsmanship teacher for Xie Ci. The man was extremely arrogant and was only willing to teach Xie Ci, and the other party's famous skill was the chain knife.
The man was extremely talented and had mastered the swordsmanship when he was over 25 years old.
Xun Xun never expected that Xie Ci would suddenly produce a chain knife out of thin air, and his chain knife skills had already reached perfection!
He was shocked and angry, and Xie Ci swung his knife down, blood spurted out along with the blade. Xie Ci stepped on Long Shouren's head and jumped towards the cliff with all his strength!
The man was in mid-air, and when he turned around, there was a gap for him to strike with a knife.
On the left was Xun Xun, and on the right was Xun Rongbi. He shouted loudly and swung the chain knife to the right without hesitation!
Xun Rongbi's eyes were bloodshot: "Kill him! Kill him now!!"
He pushed the guard forward and leaned back with all his strength, but the chain blade just caught up with him at the last moment of his leaning back. The blade flashed like snow, and with a "swish", he felt a chill on his neck.
Xun Rongbi was horrified. He covered his neck and felt a sticky and hot liquid spurting out. He looked down and saw his hands were covered in red. It was the blood from his neck!
Xie Ci's brows were fierce, and the archers finally arrived!
"shoot--"
Arrows whizzed like rain and shot like locusts. No matter how powerful the chain mail was, it could not withstand the rain of arrows. He protected his back, abdomen and chest, but his head and neck were still exposed.
After one round of arrows, he will definitely die!
But at this moment, a clear female voice came from the top of the cliff and shouted: "Xie Ci, catch it!"
A flexible dry vine, with a cloth ring tied tightly to the end, was thrown down from the top of the cliff!
At the same time, crackling firecrackers were thrown down. As baskets of firecrackers were lit and scattered on the ground, puffs of black smoke rose up. "Look at my poisonous smoke!!"
The woman shouted loudly, startling everyone below, including the arrow formation, and suddenly became chaotic.
Xie Ci seized this critical opportunity and successfully caught the cloth ring that was running down. He pulled the dry vine hard, and with the force he jumped and rushed to the top of the cliff.
He turned over and sat on the horse behind Gu Guan, who immediately pulled the reins: "Go!"
The firecrackers were just sprinkled with crushed pine resin and cow dung, just to make them look impressive, they were actually not poisonous.
He successfully rescued Xie Ci at the critical moment. Damn, she was so tired that Gu Guan immediately turned his horse around, pulled the reins, and left immediately!
The author has something to say:
Hahahahaha, happy~ Thank you to all the babies who support the genuine version. Not much to say. There is another chapter later, which is launched from the manuscript box. Babies who can't see it, please refresh it a few more times~ (*^▽^*)
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